Mercedes van delivers happiness to sick kids

Mercedes Benz in cooperation with Trader Business Media has raised $60,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Starlight Foundation.

A Mercedes Benz van was bought with funds raised through Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Conference and Trade show, where Trader Business Media was a major sponsor.

Scott Watkins, Sales Manager of Mercedes Benz, says it has been an opportunity two years in the making.

"We were able to raise the funds with the help of all of the sponsors, such as Trader Business Media. The funds raised went towards purchasing the van plus a cash donation," he told ATN and Owner//Driver at today's launch.

Mellissa Hay, National Marketing Coordinator for the Starlight Foundation, says the van visits both metropolitan and regional hospitals that do not have a ‘starlight room’.

"Starlight relies on the generosity of individuals, the community and corporations like Mercedes-Benz to make a difference to the lives of seriously ill children at a time when they need it most. However in the next year there will be over 600,000 child admissions to hospitals across Australia.

"Our goal is to enable every single seriously ill or hospitalised child access to Starlight’s programs wherever they may live when they need Starlight the most," Hay says.

Director of Mercedes Benz Australia Vince King was there to hand over the keys to the new van.

"It is a great foundation to be involved with. People relate to it and of course it is a great opportunity to help. We’ve been involved with the Starlight foundation for 15 years now," he says.